Where was I when the rockets came to life
And carried you away into the alligator sky?
Even though I'll never know what's up ahead
I'm never letting go, I'm never letting go

Uh uh, that's not a plane, that's me
I'm sittin' where I'm supposed to
Floatin' on the cloud, can't nobody come close to
The concrete and the sky switch places
So now my ceiling is painted with cosmic spaces
Firecracker to the moon, keep your eyes shut
Blastin' off like a rocket from the ground up
I used to catch a cab on the Monday
Now the taxi's sellin' lights on the runway
Fly, condo on the Milky Way
A house on the cloud and God's my landlord
And for my rent all I pay is my drive
I got that
So if you need me you can find me in the alligator sky

Where was I when the rockets came to life
And carried you away into the alligator sky?
(Into the alligator sky)
Even though I'll never know what's up ahead
I'm never letting go, I'm never letting go

Roller coaster through the atmosphere
I'm drowning in this starry serenade
Where ecstasy becomes cavalier
My imagination's taking me away

Reverie, whisper in my ear
I'm scared to death that I'll never be afraid
Roller coaster through the atmosphere
My imagination's taking me away

Uh, now I'ma dance like I never dance
Sing like I never sing, dream like I never dream
Or try to, 'cause we've been lied to
That the sun is somethin' that we can't fly to
Well, I sit on my star and see street lights
Look up, ha, you'll miss me if you blink twice
Imagination is hot and if you got it you can meet me
When you see me in the alligator sky

Where was I when the rockets came to life
And carried you away into the alligator sky?
(Into the alligator sky)
Even though I'll never know what's up ahead
I'm never letting go, I'm never letting go

Where was I when the rockets came to life
And carried you away into the alligator sky?
Even though I'll never know what's up ahead
I'm never letting go, I'm never letting go

In the alligator sky?
In the alligator sky?
In the alligator sky?
In the alligator sky?


Lyrics submitted by whcodered, edited by LoseYourself

Alligator Sky Lyrics as written by Adam R. Young

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Alligator Sky song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

28 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +4
    General Comment

    Throughout the song he's talking about going as far as you can, and being all you can be.

    "Sing like I never sing, dream like I never dreamed Or try to, 'cause we've been lied to That the sun is somethin' that we can't fly to"

    This brings in the well known saying, "skys the limit" I believe he is merely stating, don't set a limit that low. The sky is where we want to all be. Living among each other in a Nirvana state of mind, and being all that we can be, happily.

    Alligators are often something people fear, so maybe when he mentions a "Alligator Sky" he is saying that sometimes are goals will be frightening, and hard to beat. But we need to keep going, and we can all meet in the Alligator Sky, where we all have reached our greatest potential at the end of our lives. AKA, heaven.

    Wesleylikesyourfaceon March 28, 2011   Link
  • +3
    My Interpretation

    This song is basically saying the sky's the limit. That's a cliche saying but I think Adam and Shawn took it a step further. The song is telling us to reach for the stars and let our imagination grow. It's another perfect example of Adam Young's dreamy and optimistic lyrics.

    AlligatorSkyon March 20, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This song really says Owl City more than any other. I agree with AlligatorSky (are you new here?) completely, and I can't wait until the album comes out! ADAM YOU ARE MY IDOL!

    oceanheart13on March 22, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Alligator's have wide open mouths, and the sky is wide open. :O

    So yes, I agree with everything AlligatorSky said.

    SourBlueon March 24, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think it's about overcoming intimidating circumstances. Alligators are predators, so he's talking about not only overcoming adversity, but blasting directly into it like a rocket and fulfilling your true potential...kind of like a rocket soaring into an Alligator Sky. I think the "you" in the chorus MIGHT refer to Jesus (i.e. Where was I when they crucified you?), since Adam IS a Christian, but that's just me.

    invisiboy42293on March 26, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i think this song is about acheiving your dreams(so yes,i do agree with AlligatorSky),watching your friends acheive their dreams,and never giving up."Where was i when the rockets came to life"can mean that he wasnt there to see his friend acheive thier dreams.The "rockets"are the takeoff of the dream.Further in the song,the "firecracker"can be the little spark to start the dream.Almost all dreams start with the tiniest spark of imagination."Firecracker to the moon"isa perfect example.A small spark of imagination helps a dream grow.The skys limit!The "alligatoer sky"can,yes,can be the skys limit,its very vast and yours to explore.the parts that say"remember to"breath,dream,and live,mean that you must do these in order to see where your dreams are going,in a good way.Again,his imagination is used a lot to "take him away".

    These lyrics posted are most likly not the real ones.i just usedyoutube to hear it.i think adam is a very talanted artist,and has inspired me to write music as well.All in all,this song is truly about accomplishing your dreams,and helpin your friend accomplish theirs. :)

    musicmindedon April 10, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    SO much better than the rap version...

    [ Insert bad joke that criticizes rap here ]

    megabyteon April 21, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think the song is about Jesus. Think about it, "Where was i when the rockets came to life.." the resurrection, "and carried you away into the alligator sky.." Jesus ascended to Heaven. Plus all that about God being his landlord. And won't you be dancing and singing when Jesus comes back? I will be!

    CheeseAloneon June 01, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I was in Sears today, and this came on the music video screen. It was magical, and I stood there watching it until it ended. I don't think I blinked or moved during the duration of it.

    oceanheart13on August 27, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think this song is about shooting for the stars and making the most out of your life, because you never know when it's going to be over. The first stanza really shows this because when it says "Where was I when the rockets came to life. And carried you away into the alligator sky?" that means that the narrator's friend, lover, family member (whoever) died and the narrator didn't realize life until that happened. This song is really about not taking life for granted, because you never know when it is going to end. It's also about shooting for the stars and making the most out of your life. "Well, I sit on my star and see street lights. Look up, ha, you'll miss me if you blink twice" was a line that really meant something to me because it means that it's you don't enjoy the present, great opportunities will leave your grasp and you'll regret it.

    This is really a beautiful song!

    axtreampeepon March 27, 2012   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him. There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Album art
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
Magical
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Album art
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.